News
First Lady Commissions Another NITDA’s RHI ICT Centre in Kwara
By Lukman Oladokun
As part of its contribution to the Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) social investment programme, the Nigeria’s First Lady and Chairperson, RHI, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has commissioned another ICT Community Centre constructed by the National Information Technology Development Agency in collaboration for the RHI at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Speaking at the fun-filled event organised for the commissioning, the wife of the President commended NITDA for its impactful efforts in bridging the digital divide across the country.
She said, ” So far, NITDA has constructed four Community ICT Centres in collaboration with RHI for its social investment purposes. This centre we are commissioning today is the second, while Benue and Oyo centres are ready to be commissioned soon.”
“Other Digital Economy Centres have also been fully equipped with computers and other ICT materials in five states namely Jigawa, Ebonyi, Cross Rivers, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to her, additional 10 Digital Economy Centres in Abia, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara states are also fully equipped with computers and ICT materials and will be ready for commissioning soon.
While acknowledging that the knowledge of ICT serves as a vital tool for empowering communities especially women which enable them to break traditional barriers and new opportunities, Senator Tinubu declared that she has been informed that these centres are greatly benefiting youths, especially women and girls by providing invaluable opportunities for growth and empowerment.
“I am glad to hear about the success stories and opportunities these centres are affording members of these various communities that have benefited from these interventions. By equipping themselves with ICT skills, women and girls can enhance their educational prospects, be self-reliant, participate in the global economy, and support their families,” she added.
The First Lady urged the community members to take full ownership of these centres adding that the success of these centres depend on their active participation and utilisation of the resources available.
The Kwara State Governor, Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the First Lady and the NITDA’s management for what he described as “impactful initiative.”
He said, “Technology is here to stay and the only path forward is to aggressively invest in the skills and infrastructure that will secure a prosperous future for our people.”
“As we commissioned this ICT Community Centre today, I extend our heartfelt appreciation to Her Excellence and the RHI for this remarkable investment in our communities and youths.”
In his welcome remarks, the NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, said the project further attests to the president’s commitment to harnessing the potential of digital innovation to drive national prosperity and inclusivity.
Describing the project as a pivotal step towards strengthening the digital economy and enhancing our citizens’ digital fluency and proficiency, he said the centre is designed and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to deliver smart, interactive and personalised learning experience to the citizens.
“We know knowledge is a foundation upon which countries build robust and sustainable economy, this aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to elevating Nigeria to a premier status of the global digital economy and by harnessing the potential of digital innovation to drive national prosperity and inclusivity.
He said, “To achieve this, our President directed us to enhance productivity in crucial sectors such as education, that is the reason we are here to commission this initiative. So the President is committed to that, and our mother, the First Lady, through her initiative is partnering with NITDA to deliver this centre to you in Kwara State.
The NITDA boss said the centre is in line with the president’s wife initiative of empowering women, the vulnerable groups and the students with knowledge they need to thrive in life. “We thank you mummy for this partnership with NITDA to implement this initiative.”
“This is one of our initiatives designed as the Digital Literacy for All because we know Nigeria’s greatest resource is not the mineral underneath us but it is our human capital. And this is the only way we can deliver a sustained inclusive growth as a nation.”
He noted that the initiative is designed in three buckets.
“We have worked with the Ministry of Education, we developed curriculum for primary and secondary schools, we are training the teachers this year and by next session, digital skills will be embedded in Nigerian formal educational sector.
The centre is equipped with 48 computer sets, e-learning facilities, alternative power source, internet facility and other essential ICT components.
The event was graced by the Imo State Governor, Chief Hope Uzodinma, the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, Wife of the Senate President, Wife of the Speaker of the House of Representative, Wife of the National Security Adviser, some state governors’ wives and other top government’s functionaries.
George Akume, secretary to the Government of the Federation, has raised alarm over the activities of a criminal syndicate allegedly cloning his voice and using it to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians with promises of Federal Government appointments.
George Akume, SGF
In a statement issued by Yomi Odunuga, his special adviser on Media and Publicity, on Thursday, Akume said the fraudsters have impersonated him in audio calls and text messages, targeting high-profile individuals and soliciting payments ranging from ₦5 million to ₦15 million in exchange for phantom political positions.
“From information available to the office, the fraudsters cloned the voice of the SGF, using it to solicit money in return for federal appointments,” the statement read.
The SGF further revealed that the scammers not only cloned his voice but also spoofed the phone numbers of other high-profile individuals to give credibility to their fraudulent scheme.
“These scammers attach bank account details to messages sent to victims and request them to send their CVs to cloned emails,” Odunuga added.
The statement noted that the fraudsters have been operating through both traditional bank accounts and fintech mobile wallets, complicating efforts to trace the financial trails.
Distancing himself from the illicit scheme, Akume stressed that appointments to Federal Government boards and parastatals are transparent and not for sale under any guise.
The statement noted, “Senator Akume emphasized that the appointment processes for Nigerians into boards and parastatals are transparent and verifiable, urging individuals not to pay any money in expectation of securing a position.”
The Office of the SGF confirmed that it has notified relevant security agencies, urging members of the public to report suspicious calls or messages to law enforcement.
“The Office of the SGF strongly advises Nigerians to report the activities of these fraudulent people to the authorities while taking all precautionary steps necessary to avoid being victims of th
Ola Olukoyede, executive chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has denied claims that he compelled Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to step down from his role.
Bayo Ojulari,
The allegations stemmed from an August 2, 2025, online publication which alleged that Olukoyede and Adeola Ajayi, director general, Department of State Services (DSS), pressured Ojulari into signing a resignation letter during a closed-door meeting in Abuja.
The report also suggested that Ojulari was interrogated over his purported links to Olatimbo Ayinde, British-Nigerian oil mogul, who is reportedly close to key figures in the present administration.
In a follow-up story, the news outlet further claimed Ojulari was later invited to the Presidential Villa, where First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu reportedly opposed his resignation.
Responding to the allegations, Dele Oyewale, spokesman, EFCC< issued a statement on Wednesday on behalf of the Commission, noting that Olukoyede, through his legal counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), described the publications as defamatory and injurious to his integrity.
“The publications and the imputations conveyed by them are so damning and cannot be ignored or treated with levity,” the statement quoted.
Olukoyede denied any suggestion that he was acting at the behest of Ayinde or that his actions were influenced by external political figures.
A letter addressed to the editor of the publication, signed by Olumide-Fusika, reiterated the gravity of the claims and insisted on corrective measures.
“He, therefore, demanded that the medium acknowledge your wrongdoing, expressly admit that what you published and imputed against my client are false, apologise for it unreservedly and retract and pull down the stories from your newspaper website and social media handles,” the statement added.
Olukoyede said the story portrayed him as “someone that has betrayed and subverted public trust by submitting the authority of his public office and trust as Chairman of the EFCC to the dictates and directives of one Olatimbo Ayinde.”
Labelling the report as entirely fabricated, Olukoyede demanded an official apology and complete removal of the story from the outlet’s digital platforms within 48 hours.
PalmPay reinforced its commitment to data protection and youth empowerment with a ground-breaking partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to launch the Youth Data Protection Awareness and Training (YDPAT) Program, which is targeted at equipping over 1,000,000 Nigerian youths digitally over 3 years.
The training program, commissioned last week at the Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Centre in Abuja, will focus on providing youths with the right knowledge and skills required to navigate the digital landscape safely. With over 70% of the Nigerian population consisting of youths, this is an important move to foster trust, security and youth-focused innovation.
Speaking at the launch, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, commended PalmPay’s partnership in the actualisation of the program and described YDPAT as a bold step toward building a digitally literate and security-conscious generation.
In his words, “This is about building a privacy-first generation, one that is inclusive, future-facing, and globally competitive.” He also emphasised the low awareness of the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023 and the critical shortage of certified Data Protection Officers (DPOs), despite over 500,000 data controllers operating in the country.
This position was equally supported by PalmPay’s Managing Director, Mr Chika Nwosu, who stated how data protection is as important as innovation in tech. He noted that PalmPay integrates privacy into every stage of its product development, ensuring that user information is safe.
Beyond ensuring data protection, PalmPay is committed to empowering young Nigerians with real opportunities for growth, with mentorship and internship placements for top-performing participants. It has led several youth-oriented initiatives, including the Purple Woman campaign, and Passing the Baton CSR for thousands of youths and women in urban and rural communities.
With a drive to achieve nationwide digital literacy, PalmPay is championing campaigns in Northern Nigeria, with more activations planned across various states.
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